Chemical Air Pollution Research Articles

Quick Computing CFD Model to Predict Chemical Pollution in Room

Purpose. The problem of accidental contamination of workspaces attracts special attention, since in the event of such extreme situations, intense chemical contamination of the air in work areas occurs. This poses a threat of toxic exposure to workers. When assessing the consequences of such situations, it is necessary to take into account the time factor, in particular, to quickly determine the creation of concentrations of chemically hazardous substances. In this regard, an urgent task is to develop effective mathematical models for rapid assessment of the consequences of extreme situations in the working areas of chemically hazardous facilities. The paper considers a CFD model for analyzing the process of chemical air pollution in a workspace during an accidental release of a chemically hazardous substance. The solution of the problem is based on the numerical integration of the fundamental equations of continuum mechanics. Methodology. To calculate the air velocity field in the working room during the operation of supply and exhaust ventilation, a mathematical model of the motion of an inviscid fluid was used. The equation of convective diffusion motion was used to calculate the concentration of a chemically hazardous substance in the workspace. The integration of the modeling equations was carried out using finite difference schemes. Findings. A dynamic model has been created to calculate the spread of a chemically hazardous substance in a workspace. On the basis of the built CFD model, a computer program was created to conduct a computational experiment. Originality. A CFD model has been created to predict the level of air pollution in a workspace in the event of toxic gas emissions. The model is based on the fundamental equations of aerodynamic mechanics and mass transfer. The model makes it possible to determine the effect of the ventilation mode, the intensity of emission of a chemically hazardous substance, the location of equipment in the workspace, and the dynamics of the formation of concentration fields. Practical value. The developed CFD model can be used to quickly analyze the consequences of accidental emissions of a chemically hazardous substance in a workplace and assess the risk of toxic exposure of workers.

Advancing characterization of VOC diffusion in indoor fabrics: A dual-porosity modeling approach

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major chemical pollutants in indoor air. Indoor fabrics, such as curtains, carpets, sofas, and clothes, strongly adsorb VOCs due to their high loading rates and large specific surface areas. The desorption of VOCs from these fabrics can act as a secondary source, worsening indoor air pollution and prolonging its effects. The diffusion coefficient is a key parameter that determines the source-sink properties of fabrics. In this study, the VOC diffusion characteristics in fabrics were investigated through microstructural examination, mass transfer analysis, and environmental chamber experiments. Yarn and fiber gaps were identified as dual mass transfer channels within the fabrics and were represented using two distinct fractal models. A dual-porosity medium (DPM) model, based on these fractal representations, was developed to predict the VOC diffusion coefficients in indoor fabrics and was validated via experiments under various environmental conditions and fabric-VOC combinations. The results highlight the significant impact of fabric structure and composition on VOC adsorption and emission dynamics. The validated DPM model provides a comprehensive approach to predicting VOC diffusion in fabrics, providing a more accurate method for assessing indoor air quality and fabric-mediated human exposure.

Мониторинг химического загрязнения атмосферного воздуха городов Ставропольского края на основе геоинформационных технологий

In order to obtain a reliable assessment of the state of the urban environment, it is necessary to analyze the quality of atmospheric air in the process of monitoring. Currently, geoinformation analysis allows identifying spatial patterns of atmospheric air pollution. The purpose of the study is to analyze the level of chemical pollution of atmospheric air in the cities of Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk, Pyatigorsk using geoinformation technologies. Space images and vector data were used to prepare the map basis for residential and industrial settlements zones. A geodatabase was created to build geoinformation models of maximum concentration of substances and complex index of atmospheric pollution. The geodatabase includes attribute data on concentration of substances in the vector layer of “sampling points”. It has been processed in QGIS program, using the weighted distances method. For the integrated analysis, a map of the index dynamics was created and mapping work was carried out in order to assess the integrated air pollution index for each year under study. The article presents the analysis of priority contaminants for 2019–2021 in large and actively developing industrial centers of Stavropol Region, including Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk and Pyatigorsk. As a result of the study, it was established that between 2019 and 2021 the level of chemical pollution of atmospheric air in the cities of Stavropol, Nevinnomyssk, Pyatigorsk was assessed as low. At the same time, a steady trend towards an annual increase in the complex atmospheric pollution index was registered. In Stavropol, phenol and nitrogen dioxide make the major contribution to the chemical pollution of the city’s atmosphere. Increased concentrations of substances were noted in the industrial zone of the city as well as along main transportation routes. In Nevinnomyssk, the main contaminants are: carbon oxide, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia and phenol. Phenol and nitrogen dioxide make the greatest contribution to the chemical pollution of the atmosphere of Pyatigorsk. The resulting geoinformation models allow clearly identifying the main areas of air pollution and providing a basis for calculating indicators of the quality of life in cities.

Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Diversity in the Urban Air of Sofia (Bulgaria) during Spring and Winter

The main scientific interest for decades remained focused primarily on physical and chemical air pollutants, which severely limited our knowledge of microbial diversity in the atmosphere. The ecology of airborne microorganisms is poorly understood, even though they are a constant element of the air we breathe. Their exploration is very important for understanding health and ecological impacts, mainly in the highly urbanized cities. The main purpose of this study is to explore the biodiversity of microorganisms in the atmosphere over the densely populated centre of Sofia (Bulgaria) during spring and winter by Next-generation sequencing. The results showed that the most prevailing bacteria in the urban bioaerosols were representatives of phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, Actinobacteria. Many of the identified species were soil and leaf surface dwellers. Most of the detected fungal sequences belong to the phylum Ascomycota. Some pathogenic bacterial and fungal taxa were also found. This study provides the first information about microbial diversity in the outdoor air above Sofia and contributes to better understanding of urban airborne microbiota.

Impacts of long-term climate change on human health: a global scoping review

Abstract Introduction Research output on climate change and human health is growing rapidly. This can make it difficult to find and use relevant information to develop public health action. Methods We present a global scoping review of the rapidly growing quantitative research output on long-term climate change and human health. We searched Scopus, Embase, and PubMed for quantitative, English language literature published between January 2000 and June 2021 that referenced climate change and human health in titles, abstracts, or keywords. Results From 36,956 publications we identified 754 relevant studies. Europe, the Americas, and the Western Pacific were studied much more often than other WHO regions. Research on temperature and vectors accounted for 70% of all included publications. Malaria, diarrheal diseases, and cardiovascular diseases were the most studied specific health outcomes. We found very few studies on non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries. Retrospective publications (153) showed effects of climate change are already occurring worldwide. Most studies on tick-borne encephalitis, malaria, and lower respiratory infections associated with air pollution found impacts caused by climate change have increased. The strongest attribution of climate change was found for heat-related impacts. In prospective publications (626) diarrheal diseases, and impacts associated with heat and chemical air pollution were most consistently projected to increase. Future vector-borne disease impacts were projected to be highly location specific. Some studies demonstrated adaptation can effectively reduce impacts, while noting that capacity to adapt differs greatly between population groups. Conclusions Our findings underline climate change impacts are diverse and complex. Future research should prioritize the relatively understudied regions most vulnerable to climate change, such as Africa, and impacts beyond those related to temperature and vector-borne diseases.

Soil and water pollution and cardiovascular disease.

Healthy, uncontaminated soils and clean water support all life on Earth and are essential for human health. Chemical pollution of soil, water, air and food is a major environmental threat, leading to an estimated 9 million premature deaths worldwide. The Global Burden of Disease study estimated that pollution was responsible for 5.5 million deaths related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 2019. Robust evidence has linked multiple pollutants, including heavy metals, pesticides, dioxins and toxic synthetic chemicals, with increased risk of CVD, and some reports suggest an association between microplastic and nanoplastic particles and CVD. Pollutants in soil diminish its capacity to produce food, leading to crop impurities, malnutrition and disease, andthey can seep into rivers, worsening water pollution. Deforestation, wildfires and climate change exacerbate pollution by triggering soil erosion and releasing sequestered pollutants into the air and water. Despite their varied chemical makeup, pollutants induce CVD through common pathophysiological mechanisms involving oxidative stress and inflammation. In this Review, we provide an overview of the relationship between soil and water pollution and human health and pathology, and discuss the prevalence of soil and water pollutants and how they contribute to adverse health effects, focusing on CVD.

How heatwaves affect short-term emergency hospital admissions due to bacterial foodborne diseases

The coming decades are likely to see of extreme weather events becoming more intense and frequent across Europe as a whole and around the Mediterranean in particular. The reproduction rate of some microorganisms, including the bacteria that cause foodborne diseases, will also be affected by these events. The aim of this study was thus to ascertain whether there might be a statistically significant relationship between emergency hospital admissions due to the principal bacterial foodborne diseases (BFDs) and the various meteorological variables, including heatwaves.We conducted a time-series study, with daily observations of both the dependent variable (emergency hospital admissions due to BFDs) and the independent variables (meteorological variables and control variables of chemical air pollution) across the period 2013–2018 in the Madrid Region (Spain), using Generalised Linear Models with Poisson regression, in which control and lag variables were included for the purpose of fitting the models. We calculated the threshold value of the maximum daily temperature above which such admissions increased statistically significantly, analysed data for the whole year and for the summer months alone, and estimated the relative and attributable risks.The estimated attributable risk was 3.6 % for every one-degree rise in the maximum daily temperature above 12 °C throughout the year, and 12.21 % for every one degree rise in temperature above the threshold heatwave definition temperature (34 °C) in summer.Furthermore, different meteorological variables displayed a statistically significant association. Whereas hours of sunlight and mean wind speed proved significant in the analyses of both the whole year and summer, the variables “rain” and “relative humidity”, only showed a significant relationship in the analysis for the whole year.High ambient temperature is a risk factor that favours the increase in emergency hospitalisations attributable to the principal BFDs, with a greater impact being observed on days coinciding with heatwave periods. The results yielded by this study could serve as a basis for implementing BFD prevention strategies, especially on heatwave days.

АНАЛІЗ НАСЛІДКІВ ЕКСТРЕМАЛЬНИХ СИТУАЦІЙ НА БАЗІ ЧИСЕЛЬНИХ МОДЕЛЕЙ

The report considers some classes of numerical models that were built to predict the consequences of emergencies at industrial enterprises. The first class of models has been developed to predict chemical air pollution in case of accidental emissions of toxic substances. Modeling is carried out on the basis of the fundamental equations of aerodynamics and mass transfer. Difference splitting schemes are used for the numerical solution of the modeling equations. The second class of CFD models is designed to assess the risk of thermal damage to people in the event of thermal pollution of the air environment. The third class of models was developed to assess the risk of injury to people when a shock wave moves. To solve this problem Euler equations were used. Computer codes were developed on the base of proposed numerical models.

Metal-rich biochar as an asphalt modifier to improve sustainability and reduce VOC emissions

Asphalt-surfaced areas have been recently reported as non-combustion sources emitting organic chemical compounds. These emissions from asphalt not only accelerate its aging but also negatively affect air quality and the health of people who inhale the emitted compounds. Trying to mitigate the latter emission and inspired by the phytoremediation capacity of the acacia plant, we have developed a metal-rich carbonaceous adsorbent (biochar) from the acacia plant. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of our acacia-derived adsorbent to reduce the hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from asphalt-surfaced areas. We further compare the efficacy of our acacia-derived adsorbent with an adsorbent made from a low-metal plant (silver grass). The higher metal content of the adsorbent made from acacia correlated with its higher efficacy compared to that of silver grass in reducing the release of VOCs from the corresponding asphalt, displaying emissions of 16.9% in asphalt binder containing acacia biochar compared to emissions of 21.2% using silver-grass biochar. Using density functional theory (DFT)-based molecular modeling, we specifically investigated the adsorption behavior of three prominent metals present in acacia biochar: Ca with ≈8 wt%, Al with 6.9 wt%, and Fe with 4.4 wt%. Using DFT, we demonstrated the individual contribution of each metal to adsorbing each of six chemical air pollutants. The DFT results revealed the superiority of Fe at interacting with VOCs across all N-containing zones of the biochar surface: pyridine, pyrrole, amine, and amide. Specifically, in the pyridine and pyrrole zones of the biochar surface, the trend of interaction energy for gas pollutants is as follows: Fe > Ca > Al > no metal. Considering the high concentration of Ca in acacia biochar (≈8 wt%), this trend of energy (Fe > Ca > Al > no metal) highlights the crucial role of Ca in enhancing biochar adsorption. Our findings highlight the potential of using inherently metal-rich biomass feedstocks to reduce volatile emissions from asphalt-surfaced areas, improving air quality and extending the service life of roadway infrastructure.

Ranking of territories in the Voronezh region by the incidence rates resulting from chemical load

Numerous studies conducted by domestic and foreign researchers report the influence of environmental pollution on shaping morbidity of a population. The study was aimed to rank the territories of the Voronezh Region by the incidence rates probably resulting from chemical pollution of atmospheric air, drinking water, soils in residential areas recorded in 2018–2022. The districts were divided into three groups based on the long-time annual average incidence rates. The degree of correlation between the disease entities and the chemical environmental factors was determined through correlation analysis. The findings have shown that the city of Voronezh and Pavlovsky District are the territories at risk of the disorders with the etiology that is likely to be associated with chemical air pollution. The territories at risk of the disorders that are likely to be associated with chemical pollution of drinking water include Kashirsky, Kantemirovsky, Olkhovatsky, Ternovsky, Khokholsky districts, while the territories at risk of the disorders that are likely to be associated with chemical pollution of soils in residential areas include the city of Voronezh, Borisoglebsky city district, Liskinsky and Rossoshansky districts. The situation observed in the above administrative territories requires in-depth study of the degree of the impact of chemical factors on public health and identification of the sources of these factors. The findings can be used to develop the guidelines on minimization of the adverse effects of chemical environmental factors on public health in the region.

Identification of hazards for human health under chemical pollution in air inside in-patient hospitals

Use of various physical and chemical research techniques, including chromato-mass-spectrometry, made it possible to identify and quantify more than 40 organic compounds in air inside healthcare organizations, including saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, and aromatic hydrocarbons; terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, halogen-containing compounds, and organic acids. Levels of ethanol, dichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, acetone, terpene hydrocarbons, and acetic acid made the main contribution to the total content of all identified compounds. Most detected substances were present in concentrations not exceeding hygienic standards, except for chloroform and iodoform, the levels of which were up to 2 times higher than average daily MPL in intensive care wards and a bronchoscopy room. Organic acids and chlorinated organic compounds were found in elevated concentrations compared with insides of non-medical public buildings. Among the wide list of identified substances, hygienic standards have not been established for more than 70% of compounds and it is not possible to give a hygienic assessment of hazards or safety of their presence in air inside healthcare facilities. Despite that, the information obtained in this study is extremely useful for accomplishing an important stage in health risk analysis, which is identification of hazards for health of patients and healthcare workers posed by chemical air pollution inside healthcare organizations when using the risk analysis methodology. In this study, we assessed effects produced by operations of UV recirculator irradiators for air disinfection on its chemical composition inside healthcare institutions. The assessment showed that when such devices worked in the presence of patients and staff, there was an increase in the amount of pollutants in air and their total concentration grew from two to more than four times. When analyzing risks for health of staff and patients, hazard identification within risk-based control of chemical air pollution in the hospital environment should include monitoring of formaldehyde, styrene, ammonia, ethanol, isopropanol, chloroform, dichloroethane, acetic acid along with identification of a wide range of volatile organic compounds; it should also cover ammonia as one of the priority pollutants occurring in the environment from human excretory products.

Проблемы идентификации опасности для здоровья человека при химическом загрязнении воздушной среды помещений медицинских стационаров

Use of various physical and chemical research techniques, including chromato-mass-spectrometry, made it possible to identify and quantify more than 40 organic compounds in air inside healthcare organizations, including saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, and aromatic hydrocarbons; terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, halogen-containing compounds, and organic acids. Levels of ethanol, dichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, acetone, terpene hydrocarbons, and acetic acid made the main contribution to the total content of all identified compounds. Most detected substances were present in concentrations not exceeding hygienic standards, except for chloroform and iodoform, the levels of which were up to 2 times higher than average daily MPL in intensive care wards and a bronchoscopy room. Organic acids and chlorinated organic compounds were found in elevated concentrations compared with insides of non-medical public buildings. Among the wide list of identified substances, hygienic standards have not been established for more than 70% of compounds and it is not possible to give a hygienic assessment of hazards or safety of their presence in air inside healthcare facilities. Despite that, the information obtained in this study is extremely useful for accomplishing an important stage in health risk analysis, which is identification of hazards for health of patients and healthcare workers posed by chemical air pollution inside healthcare organizations when using the risk analysis methodology. In this study, we assessed effects produced by operations of UV recirculator irradiators for air disinfection on its chemical composition inside healthcare institutions. The assessment showed that when such devices worked in the presence of patients and staff, there was an increase in the amount of pollutants in air and their total concentration grew from two to more than four times. When analyzing risks for health of staff and patients, hazard identification within risk-based control of chemical air pollution in the hospital environment should include monitoring of formaldehyde, styrene, ammonia, ethanol, isopropanol, chloroform, dichloroethane, acetic acid along with identification of a wide range of volatile organic compounds; it should also cover ammonia as one of the priority pollutants occurring in the environment from human excretory products.

ASSESSMENT OF THE ENERGY FACILITY IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Problem statement. The task of assessing the influence of the boiler house on atmospheric air pollution is under consideration. Carrying out such an assessment is very important when locating boiler houses near residential areas. Since the weather conditions for each region are characterized by a change in the direction of the wind, the intensity of atmospheric diffusion, the appearance of a calm, it is important to have information about the formation of pollution zones in sedimentary zones. To solve this important problem, it is very important to use mathematical modeling, since it is currently impossible to create a sufficient number of observation posts near the objects of the fuel and energy complex. The purpose of the article. Numerical analysis of the influence of the boiler house on the intensity of atmospheric air pollution under different weather conditions. Methodology. The 3D equation of convective-diffusion transport is used to estimate the pollution zones formed in the atmospheric air when it is emitted from the boiler house pipe. The model takes into account atmospheric stratification, impurity emission intensity, wind profile, wind speed. Numerical integration of the equation of convective-diffusion transport of impurities is carried out using finite-difference schemes. The modeling equation is split into an equation for the convective transport of the pollutant and an equation for the dispersion of the pollutant due to atmospheric diffusion. The equation describing the change in the concentration of the impurity in the atmospheric air as a result of the emission of the pollutant from the pipe is solved separately. At the next stage, finite-difference schemes are built that allow solving the splitting equation. Scientific novelty. On the basis of the constructed numerical model, the zones of atmospheric air pollution during the emission of CO from the pipe of the boiler house are determined. A numerical model is proposed that allows forecasting atmospheric air pollution for different weather conditions within the framework of one program package. Practical significance. On the basis of the proposed numerical model, the forecasting of the zones of chemical pollution of the atmospheric air in the settlement zone in which the boiler house is located was carried out. The results of the computational experiment are presented.

Klimatske promene i zdravlje ljudi

Compared to the end of the 19th century, the average temperature of the earth's surface is higher by 1.1o C, and the last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest recorded since 1850. Mortality rate to high temperatures increases by 1-4% for each degree of increase in air temperature due to dehydration, heatstroke, and worsening of existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and storms are associated with an increase in drowning, and injuries, psychological disorders, but also contamination of water and food with an increased risk of infectious diseases. Temperature changes affect the interaction of vectors and hosts, changes in ecosystems, and the existence of new species in a certain area, which leads to an increase in diseases transmitted by mosquitoes (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile virus), ticks (Lyme disease), flies (leishmaniasis), snails (schistosomiasis), etc. Animal and plant diseases, in addition to natural disasters and pollution, further increase the reduction in the amount of food, which results in an increase in malnutrition of the human population, from which 3.5 million people die every year. Frequent fires (increase in fine particles 2.5-10 mm and dust) and chemical air pollution (increase in the concentration of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone, and fine particles smaller than 2.5 mm) cause an increase in diseases of the respiratory (asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung cancer) and the cardiovascular system (arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism). The change in the pattern of plant vegetation, with the increase in the concentration of pollen in the air, leads to an increased incidence of allergic diseases, which will reach the level of a pandemic in 2050 with about four billion people suffering from asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Exposure to algae biotoxins in marine animals, water, or air causes short-term memory disorders and worsening of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and chemical substances and heavy metals (released from destroyed warehouses in disasters or sewage spills) as well as insecticides and pesticides have immunotoxic, genotoxic and carcinogenic effect. Mental disorders that occur after natural disasters range from acute traumatic stress to chronic stress conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorders, depression, anxiety, psychosomatic disorders, sexual dysfunctions, and alcohol and drug abuse. The long-term effects of climate change (natural disasters, sea level rise, destruction of the economy, reduction of natural resources of food, water, fuel, risk of local wars) lead to migration, and by 2050 the migration of about 200 million people is expected.

Morbidity rates of the children population under conditions of aerogenic chemical exposure: risk factors and associations

Introduction. In the the industrialized regions of the Russian Federation one of the hygienic problems is the formation of additional morbidity among the population associated with intense air pollution.
 The purpose of the work is to study the health disorders in children under conditions of aerogenic chemical exposure in terms of primary morbidity.
 Materials and methods. Analysis of the primary morbidity of the children population (data from state statistical reporting and actual seeking medical care in 2017–2021); the content of the main chemical pollutants in the atmospheric air in residential buildings (data from social and hygienic monitoring and the regular observation network of Roshydromet for 2016–2020 according to the content of twenty two impurities); chronic non-carcinogenic risk; connection of diseases with aerogenic chemical exposure according to epidemiological indicators; economic assessment of predicted losses.
 Results. Comparing to the reference area, the level of primary morbidity in children with diseases of the respiratory system, digestion, kidneys, nervous system, osteoarticular apparatus, associated with aerogenic exposure to chemical pollutants, was established to be an increased by up to 3.4 times. In the atmospheric air of residential buildings, the content of a number of chemicals (metals, aromatic and fluorine-containing inorganic compounds) was found to be increased by 6.9 times and 4.0 times relative to the average daily and maximum one-time maximum permissible concentrations, respectively, and within the hygienic standards. The formed exposure causes an unacceptable risk of developing non-carcinogenic effects (HI up to 18.7 times) in relation to target organs. Additional morbidity in the children population (about 1.5 thousand cases per year) has been identified in the event of which the projected economic losses will amount to about 10 million rubles over year.
 Limitations. The study includes the children population under the age of 14 years.
 Conclusion. The primary morbidity of children in regions with developed industrial infrastructure is characterized by special random events associated with aerogenic exposure to risk factors. Projected additional losses require priority regulatory action.

Hygienic aspects of the implementation of the federal project "clean air" in the Omsk city

The aim of the work was the hygienic assessment of the atmospheric air quality and health risks to the population of Omsk city arising under the influence of chemical pollution of atmospheric air at the current stage of realization of the federal project "Clean Air".
 Material and methods. For hygienic assessment of atmospheric air quality in the territory of the city of Omsk the results of socio-hygienic monitoring and the national environmental observation system of atmospheric air pollution for the period 2017-2022 were used. Health risk assessment and calculation of the additional number of diseases under the influence of pollutants were carried out in accordance with the Guidelines for health risk assessment of exposure to chemical pollutants (R 2.1.10.3968-23).
 Results. The volumes of uncaptured air pollutant emissions from stationary sources in 2022 decreased by 21.9% compared to the baseline year 2017, from motor vehicles - by 43.6%. The level of carcinogenic risk was above the permissible value and was assessed as alarming, with an increase of 28.7% between 2017 and 2022. The average annual respiratory hazard index was assessed as high. Comparative analysis of the values of non-carcinogenic risks in 2017 and in 2022 for the population of Omsk showed an increase in harmful effects on the respiratory organs (2.5% increase), the immune system (1.6-fold increase) and the central nervous system (1.7-fold increase). At the same time, the risks to the cardiovascular system decreased, and the overall systemic effect of toxicants was reduced. As a result of long-term chronic excess formaldehyde air pollution, the mean annual population risk over the entire follow-up time was 2377.4 (CI 1802.6-2992.4; 95%) cases of additional respiratory diseases per year detected during primary and repeat patient visits.
 Conclusion. The advanced achievement of the targets of the Federal Program "Clean Air" on emissions reduction has not yet resulted in a commensurate improvement of the atmospheric air quality from the hygienic point of view. Carcinogenic risks to public health are decreasing, but remain above permissible levels. Non-carcinogenic risks for a number of substances form additional morbidity. It is necessary to develop additional interdepartmental measures to reduce emissions, primarily formaldehyde and benz/a/pyrene, to provide preventive protection of public health, especially vulnerable groups living in the city.

Short-term residential exposure to endotoxin emitted from livestock farms in relation to lung function in non-farming residents

BackgroundEvidence on the public health relevance of exposure to livestock farm emissions is increasing. Research mostly focused on chemical air pollution, less on microbial exposure, while endotoxins are suggested relevant bacterial components in farm emissions. Acute respiratory health effects of short-term exposure to livestock-related air pollution has been shown for NH3 and PM10, but has not yet been studied for endotoxin. We aimed to assess associations between lung function and short-term exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin in co-pollutant models with NH3 and PM10. MethodsIn 2014/2015, spirometry was conducted in 2308 non-farming residents living in a rural area in the Netherlands. Residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin during the week prior to spirometry was estimated by dispersion modelling. The model was applied to geo-located individual barns within 10 km of each home address using provincial farm data and local hourly meteorological conditions. Regional week-average measured concentrations of NH3 and PM10 were obtained through monitoring stations. Lung function parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, MMEF) were expressed in %-predicted value based on GLI-2012. Exposure-response analyses were performed by linear regression modelling. ResultsWeek-average endotoxin exposure was negatively associated with FVC, independently from regional NH3 and PM10 exposure. A 1.1% decline in FVC was estimated for an increase of endotoxin exposure from 10th to 90th percentile. Stratified analyses showed a larger decline (3.2%) for participants with current asthma and/or COPD. FEV1 was negatively associated with week-average endotoxin exposure, but less consistent after co-pollutant adjustment. FEV1/FVC and MMEF were not associated with week-average endotoxin exposure. ConclusionsLower lung function in non-farming residents was observed in relation to short-term residential exposure to livestock farming emitted endotoxin. This study indicates the probable relevance of exposure to microbial emissions from livestock farms considering public health besides chemical air pollution, necessitating future research incorporating both.

P14-19: Respiratory system diseases caused by exposure of chemical air pollutants in the territory of war in Ukraine

P14-19: Respiratory system diseases caused by exposure of chemical air pollutants in the territory of war in Ukraine

The co-benefits of electric mobility in reducing traffic noise and chemical air pollution: Insights from a transit-oriented city

Traffic noise is a growing threat to the urban population. Prolonged exposure to traffic noise has been linked to negative health consequences such as annoyance, sleep disturbances and cardiovascular diseases. While electric vehicles are known to have lower noise profiles, the impacts of electric mobility on traffic noise, especially for electrified heavy-duty vehicles, have not been thoroughly examined. This study aims to examine the impacts of both electric light-duty vehicles and electric buses on traffic noise levels in a highly urbanized city. Traffic noise along the source line and pedestrian network was first estimated and mapped to illustrate its spatiotemporal variations. Then, scenario analysis was used to compare the impacts. Population potentially benefiting from reduced traffic noise in the neighbourhoods and the associated health impacts were also estimated. Results indicate that electric buses have a greater potential to reduce traffic noise, with a maximum reduction of 4.4 dBA during daytime in the urban cores. With all bus fleet electrified, around 60% of the population can benefit from a reduction of 1 dBA at the street environment, 15.3% for 1–2 dBA, and 4.3% for more than 2 dBA. The estimated reduction of preventable deaths and preventable cases of diseases per 100,000 population are 4.15 and 112.99 respectively. The findings shed important insights into prioritizing bus routes to be electrified in urban areas for maximizing health co-benefits.

Якість повітря житлових приміщень як важлива детермінанта здоров’я та пріоритетне завдання у галузі гігієни середовища життєдіяльності людини

According to WHO definition, indoor air quality is an important determinant of human health. Emissions from building materials, furniture, and consumer goods, combustion processes, and infiltration of polluted atmospheric air are considered the main sources of hazardous chemicals and solid pollutants in indoor air. Aim. To conduct an analysis of the results of comprehensive sanitary and hygienic studies of air quality in residential buildings and apartments in order to determine priority chemical pollutants and products of their transformation; justify the need to improve the air quality monitoring system of residential premises taking into account modern WHO recommendations. Materials and Methods. The study of air samples of residential premises was carried out on the basis of the L.I. Medved’s Research Center of Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (2000-2015) and Kyiv Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (2015-2019). A comprehensive toxicological and hygienic assessment of the air in residential premises was carried out based on the appeals of citizens who complained about the unpleasant smell of the air. A total of 123 residential objects (856 samples) were investigated. Applied methods of systematic and comparative analysis, cross-sectional survey method (survey of residents of residential buildings and apartments), sanitary and hygienic methods; sanitary and chemical methods (29 methods according to the institution's accreditation). Statistical data processing was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0.0.0 program (Spearman correlation analysis), with p≤0.05. Results. A high level of chemical air pollution in residential premises, carried out based on citizen complaints, was established. Various external and internal sources of chemical air pollution were determined, in particular by marker pollutants: formaldehyde, phenol, and acetone. It has been established that the cause of their emission into the air is household items (furniture), various construction and finishing materials (polymers), which are used mainly during repair work or in new buildings. A direct positive connection was found between the level of exceeding the maximum permissible limit of marker chemical pollutants and the well-being and health of residents of settlements. Symptoms such as fatigue, cough, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, headaches and dizziness, allergic conditions were most often observed, which determines the urgency of improving the preventive work of primary care doctors ‒ family medicine in the direction of detecting pre-pathological conditions among healthy individuals and especially sensitive contingents (children, teenagers, pregnant women) living in the conditions of a "sick building". Conclusions. The unsatisfactory state of air inside residential premises determines the need to improve the existing system of monitoring the quality of air inside residential premises, in particular, improving methods of sampling and analysis of priority chemical indoor air pollutants to assess the risk of their combined action. Keywords: indoor air, "sick building syndrome", phenol, formaldehyde.